The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

Safety issue description

The rail transport operator (GWA) had not maintained sufficient oversight of the activities of the rail infrastructure manager (Transfield Services), allowing the track to deteriorate to a level where trains could not be reliably run in a safe manner.

Proactive Action

Action organisation:

Genesee & Wyoming Australia

Action number:

RO-2014-018-NSA-029

Date:

15 October 2015

Action status:

Closed

As a result of this occurrence, Genesee & Wyoming Australia implemented the following procedural changes within their Penong-Thevenard operations:

Transfield Services (as the contracted maintenance provider) informs GWA of any detailed track inspections and assessment reports in the form of Transfield document TMF-5031-QA-0001 that are filled out each time an inspection is completed, regardless of a fault being found or not. This form is emailed to the Track Superintendent, Eyre Peninsula as soon after inspection is completed (approximately every 2-4 days).

Transfield Services (as the contracted maintenance provider) keeps GWA informed of track related faults by providing a Track Fault list every month, which is reviewed before being issued to work teams. GWA is to review the adequacy of the current maintenance process performed on this line, noting the significant upgrade to be undertaken during 2015.

Current issue status:

Adequately addressed

Status justification:

The ATSB is satisfied that the actions taken by Genesee & Wyoming Australia will adequately address this safety issue.